Deputy fire chief reflects on long career with city

Friday afternoon will be bittersweet when Scott Hopkins greets friends and co-workers for the last time as Sturgis deputy fire chief.

By Terry Katzkatz@sturgisjournal.com

Friday afternoon will be bittersweet when Scott Hopkins greets friends and co-workers for the last time as Sturgis deputy fire chief.

Hopkins, who starts a new job next Tuesday as emergency services coordinator for St. Joseph County, will be honored at an open house from 2-4 p.m. Friday at the Sturgis fire station.

Hopkins has been a firefighter at heart all his life. Born and raised in Sturgis, the youngest child of Marion and Frances Hopkins.

"I grew up only a half-block away from Sturgis Rural Fire Chief John Royer," Hopkins said. "John's oldest son, John, and I were good friends growing up. We went to fires as kids, and as all kids do, I wanted to be a fireman."

At age 16, after Hopkins got his license, Chief Royer let him begin going to fires. That was more than 42 years ago.

Hopkins worked for Canteen Vending Service for 13 years, with main accounts Kirsch, Grumman Olson and Abbott Laboratories. While working for Canteen, he continued to be a volunteer on Sturgis Rural Fire Department.

"I joined the city fire department as an on-call fire fighter about 1980," he said. "On April 10, 1989, I accepted a position as full-time fire fighter with the city."

Hopkins became a certified fire investigator and a Michigan certified fire inspector.

"In my time at the fire department, I have taught CPR and first aid, fire extinguisher use," Hopkins said.

He is a member of many fire associations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs; past secretary treasurer of the Western Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Fire Marshals Association.

Hopkins is currently secretary-treasurer of the St. Joseph County Fire Chiefs Association.

Hopkins and his wife, Kim, have been married almost 36 years. They have raised four children, Christopher, Joseph, Kelli and Ben Hopkins, and have nine grandchildren.

Hopkins tells a true story about what Kim once did when she called the fire department for help.

One day when he was an on-call firefighter, his wife smelled smoke in the house and called the fire department, he said.

"I was working for Canteen at the time and out of town," Hopkins said. "By the time the fire department arrived, she discovered a spatula had melted on the dishwasher heating element. When the assistant chief ran up on the porch, Kim met him at the door and made him take off his boots before he came in to check out the problem."

Hopkins said a firefighter, whether career or volunteer, cannot do the job without full family support.

"Words cannot express the gratitude I have for the sacrifices my family has made so I could do my job," he said. "I would also like to thank the current and past Sturgis city commissioners, city managers and community members for their tremendous support of the department."

Hopkins said he has enjoyed every minute of his career.

"Although I have seen much tragedy, I have also seen much joy and optimism," he said. "My only hope is that I am leaving the department just a little better than when I started."